Three Books of Occult Philosophy · 83 of 186

Book II, Ch. 9: Of the Number six, and the Scale thereof

Six is the number of perfection, because it is the most perfect in nature, in the whole course of numbers, from one to ten, and it alone is so perfect, that in the collection of its parts it results the same, neither wanting, nor abounding. For if the parts thereof, viz. the midle [middle], the third, and sixt [sixth] part, which are three, two, one, be gathered together, they perfectly fill up the whole body of six, which perfection all the other numbers want: Hence by the Pythagorians it is said to be altogether applyed to generation, and Marriage, and is called the Scale of the world. For the world is made of the number six, neither doth it abound, or is defective. Hence that is, because the world was finished by God the sixt day. For the sixt day God saw all the things which he had made, and they were very good. Therefore the heaven, and the earth, and all the Host thereof were finished. It is also called the number of man, because the sixt day man was created: and it is also the number of our redemption, for the sixt day Christ suffered for our redemption: whence there is a great affinity betwixt the number six and the Cross, labour, and servitude: hence it is commanded in the Law, that in six days the work is to be done, six days Manna is to be gathered, six years the ground was to be sown, and that the Hebrew servant should serve his Master six years; six days the glory of the Lord appeared upon Mount Sina [Sinai], covering it with a cloud: the Cherubins had six wings, 6 circles in the Firmament, Artick, Antartick, two Tropicks, Equinoctiall, & Eclipticall, six wandring [wandering] Planets, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Mercury, the Moon, running through the latitude of the Zodiack, on both sides the Eclyptick [ecliptic]. There are six substantificall qualities in the Elements, viz. Sharpness, Thinness, Motion, and the contrary to these, Dulness, Thickness, Rest. There are six differences of position, Upwards, Downwards, Before, Behind, on the right side, one the left side. There are six naturall offices, without which nothing can be, viz. Magnitude, Colour, Figure, Intervall, Standing, Motion. Also a solid Figure of any four square thing hath six superficies. There are six Tones of all harmony, viz. 5. Tones, & 2. half tones, which make one tone, which is the sixt.

The Scale of the Number six. In the examplary Names of the six world. íéäåìà øåáâ ìà Letters.

Six orders of In the intelligible Angels, which Cherubin. Thrones. Dominations. Powers. Vertues. World. are not sent to inferiours.

Six planets wandring In the Celestiall through the latitude of Saturn. Jupiter. Mars. Venus. Mercury. The Moon World. the Zodiack from the Eclyptick. In the Elemental Six substantificall Rest. Thinness. Sharpness. Dulness. Thickness. Motion. world. qualities of Elements. In the lesser The Intellect. Memory. Sense. Motion. Life. Essence. Six degrees of men. world.

Six divels [devils], the In the infernall Acteus. Megalesius. Ormenus. Lycus. Nicon. Mimon. authors of all World.

calamities.